Pneumatic-stacker attachment for separators.



No. 649,575. Patented May l5, I900. J. GARDINER.

PNEUMATIC STACKEB ATTACHMENT FOR SEPARATORS.

(Application filed Dec. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

" '1ll!!!iill.!.!!!.......... lllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo c.

No. 649,575. Patented Maiy l5 I900; -J. GARDINER. PNEUMATIC STACKEBATTACHMENT FOB SEPABATURS.

UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAh'IE GARDINER, OF NEEPA\VA, CANADA.

PNEUMATlC-STACKER ATTACHMENT FOR SEPARATOR S SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 649,575, dated May 15, 1900.

Application filed December 29, 1899. Serial No. 7413933. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JAMES GARDINER, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Neepawa, in the county of Neepawa andProvince of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic-Stacker Attachments for Separators; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic stacker-s adapted tobe applied to threshing-machines, separators, or the like in a simpleand convenient manner.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedcombined stacker and blower possessing advantages in the matter ofsimplicity of construction and operation, durability of parts, andefficiency in action.

In evolving the invention the principal aim has been to entirelydispense with the usual conveyer commonly used to convey the straw orthe like to the stacker from the machine to which the latter is attachedand to locate the fan in such a position with relation to the otherparts of the apparatus that no chaff, dust, or straw can come in contacttherewith, and, further, to divide the blast from said fan into twoseparate currents, forming, in effect, a double blower.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification and then pointed out in the claims at the end of thedescription.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical central sectional viewof a portion of the rear end of a threshing-machine with the improvedstacker attached thereto,the latteralso being shown in section and theflexible section thereof elevated in full lines and lowered to itsnormal position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of thestacker detached from the machine, the flexible section being shown aselevated. Fig. 3 represents a detail plan view of the stacker attachedto the machine, the flexible section of the stacker being shown elevatedand adjusted to one side. Fig. 4 represents a central vertical secshownonly as an example illustrative of one of the uses of the invention.

The letter D designates the stacker, adapted to be attached to the rearopen end of a threshin g-machine, separator, or the like, and is, as

shown, preferably arranged at about an angle of forty-five degrees withrelation thereto. The stacker comprises in its construction a bottomboard a, which should be of a width equal to that of the machine towhich it is attached, and sides I), which rise from the bottom andproject a suitable distance beyond the same at the lower end thereof.These sides at their lower front corners are preferably struck on thearc of a circle concentric with the center of the circular fan-casing c.

The latter, starting from the point where the I bottom a ends,curvesaround the curved front corners of the sides, to which it is attached,and terminates at a point adjacent to the rear end of the riddles. Asshown, the projecting ends of the sides serve to close the upper half ofthe ends of the fan-casing, leaving the other half open for theadmission of air to the fan. The ends of the fan-shaft, which carries afan of suitable dimensions, are journaled in bearings secured tothelower edges of the projecting ends of the sides I), at the center of thefa'n-oasing,the shaft being driven byany suitable source of power.(Notshown) The sides b,near their upper ends on the front edges, areprovided with angular projections f, the upper edges of which aredesigned to be approximately in a horizontal plane with the top of thethreshing-machine, separator, or the like, to which the stacker isattached, while the front edges are adapted to abut against the rearedges of the sides of the machine. From a point f to their ends thesides 1) maybe of a width equal, to their lower portions and the upperedges of the projections f, and the upper edges of the sides, from thepoint f to their ends, are provided with a suitable covering g, forming,preferably, in effect, a continuation of the top covering of thethresher. It will be noted with reference to the drawings that thisconstruction provides a narrow opening or constricted neck portion g" atthe upper end of the stacker, which facilitates the massing togethercompactly of the straw and chaff as it is about to be discharged. Alsothe upper covering at this point serves to hold the straw down into thecurrent of air from the fan.

From the terminal point 0' of the top of the fan-casing to where thecovering 9 joins the top covering of the thresher or separator thestacker is entirely open, approximating in effect a hopper mouth adaptedto receive the straw and the chaff from the separator,thou gh atcomparatively widely separated points.

The letter E designates a blast-dividing imperforate diaphragm ordivision-board designed to divide the blast from the fan into twoseparate currents. The width of the diaphragm should be the same as theupwardly-opening mouth of the fan-casing, and

starting from a point slightly below and beneath the edge 0 of thelatter it extends to a point approximately in a horizontal line with therear end of the straw-shakers and in close proximity to the bottom a. Bythus arranging the diaphragm. or blast-divider it is disposed at anangle with relation to the bottom of the stacker-chute and provides anarrow slit or opening h between its lower end and the fan-casing and asimilar opening t' below the diaphragm between its upper end and thebottom a. These openings form the outlets forthe blast from the fan, thediaphragm dividing said blastinto an upper chaff-carrying. current, anda lower main current of greater volume for expelling the commingledstraw and chad. This division of the draft produces the effect of amultiple blower, the requisite blast for the same emanating from asingle fan. The upper side of the diaphragm presents a smooth unbrokensurface over which the chaff passes freely without sticking or leaving adeposit behind.

The construction so far described constitutes the permanent part of thestacker or that part which is firmly but removably attached to theseparator. As shown, such securing means may consist of straps bolted tothe machine and stacker near the bottom and top thereof.

Upon the upper end or contracted neck portion of the stacker-chute isattached a conducting-tube, preferably flexible, consisting of a seriesof tapering box-like sections F, the lower one of which fits over theupper end of the stacker-chute and is loosely connected thereto at thetop and sides, as by bolts f f respectively, working in slots, as shown.

To the upper end of this section the second section of the series issimilarly fitted and connected, and so on throughout the whole series ofsections. In the drawings three such sections are shown,'asthis number,it is thought, is sufficient to properly conduct the straw and chaff tothe stack; but a greater or less number of sections may be used. Eachsection is made slightly tapering, as shown. Hence at the end of theseries the discharge-opening is considerably contracted, causing thecommingled straw and chad to be discharged in a somewhat compact mass,thus preventing the material from being scattered over a wide area.Owing to the loose connection between the several sections at the pointsmentioned a limited movement either up or down or from side to side ispermitted, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. For accomplishing suchmovement, I may employ ropes m, secured to eyebolts n on the front sideof the upper section of the flexible tube, said ropes at their oppositeends passing through eyes 0 on the top of the thresher or separator,then wrapped upon themselves or otherwise secured, holding theadjustable flexible section in posi-, tion to direct the straw and chaffin any de sired direction. This adjustable flexible conducting tube orconduit admits of no loss of the pressure of the wind andelfectuallyprevents any back pressure of the same. As before stated, themovements permitted by the connections between the sections F arelimited, and by loosely connecting said sections, as already explained,the bolts f f do not interfere with either the up-and-down or lateralmovements desired. It is obvious that the adjustment or movement of eachone of the said sections need only be quite limited relatively and stilla considerable range of movement of the discharge end of the outermostsection will be affected, assuming the connections of the flexibleconducting-tube with the neck portion of the stacker-chute to be themain center upon which the said tube turns when adjusted in eitherdirection.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly-modifiedform of the stacker, which is denoted by the letter D, the maindifference residing in the omission of the flexible hood or chute and intapering the sides, top, and bottom from the point p to a point q,forming a constricted opening at said point. Around said opening aturntable 9" is secured in any suitable manner and adapted to supportadjustably thereon a cylindrical discharge-tube r, as shown. The sides bare provided at their lower ends with circular portions b which in thisinstance form the ends of the fan-casing, suitable openings 12 beingmade in said ends for the admission of air to the fan. Otherwise theconstruction of the device, its application to a separator, andoperation are substantially the same as in the preferred form.

The operation of the stacker maybe briefly ICC stated as follows: Thechaff from the riddles falls on the diaphragm at the lower end thereof,where it is immediately taken up by the current from the fan, and iscarried thereby along the upper surface of the division-board in thedirection of the arrows in Fig. 1 until it reaches the strm receivingchamber, (marked S in the drawings,)where it mingles and mixes with thestrawcomin g from the strawscreens. At this point the lower currentissuing from beneath the division-board joins the upper current andcombining into one strong blast carries off the commingled chaff andstraw to be stacked.

As illustrated in the drawings the invention is shown as attached to athreshing-machine or separator of a well-known construction; but Idesire it to be understood that the stacker can be applied to anymachine for handling straw, chaff, or grain without in the leastinterfering with the Working parts of the latter, as its operating partsare self-contained and its operation is entirely independent of that ofthe separator. Further, I do not desire to limit myself to the preciseconstruction shown and described, as various changes in details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A pneumatic stacker attachment for grain-separators, the samecomprising a fan located at the rear end of the riddle, a main receivingand conducting chute leading from the fan-casing and having an openfront facing the rear end of the separator and extendin g upwardly fromthe riddle, an enlarged intermediate portion or mixing chamber, andareduced or contracted neck or exit, together with a blast-dividingdiaphragm or divisionboard arranged transversely of said chute beyondthe riddle, so as to divide the air issuing from the fan into an upperand lower current within the chute; substantially as described.

2. A pneumatic stacker attachment for grain-separators, comprising afan, a main inclined receiving and conducting chute having a narrow orcontracted neck at its upper end, and an open front side or hopper-likeelongated mouth for receiving the straw and chaff discharged from theseparator, a suitably-covered top adapted to hold the straw down in thecurrent of air from the fan, an inclined blast-dividing diaphragmarranged transversely of the chute below the open front or hopper-mouthand intermediate the fan and contracted neck, providing contracteddraft-outlets between the latter and the top of the fan-casing at itslower end and between the bottom of the chute and the diaphragm at theupper end thereof, substantially as described.

3. A pneumatic stacker attachment for grain-separators, comprising aninclined main receiving and conducting chute having an open front, anincased rotary fan located at the lower end thereof, a blast-dividingdia phragm above the fan, disposed transversely of the open front sideof the chute and inclined at an angle with relation to the bottomthereof forming separate draft-conduits above and below said diaphragmdividing the blast from the fan into an upper chaff-carrying current anda lower straw-carrying current, a straw receiving and mixing chamberabove the diaphragm, and a cover for said chamber adapted to hold thestraw down in the current of air from the fan; said chamber terminatingin a contracted neck opening into a conducting chute or tube extendingfrom said neck, for directing the commingled straw and chad to thestack, substantially as described.

4. A pneumatic stacker attachment for grain-separators, the samecomprising an inclined main receiving and conducting chute having anopen front, and a neck or contracted discharge end, an intermediatemixing-chamber, an incased rotary fan at the lower end of A the chute,the same being arranged adjacent the rear end of the riddle of theseparator, a blast-dividing diaphragm entirely within the chute designedto divide the blast from the fan into two separate currents, and toreceive upon its upper surface the chaff from the riddles, and anadjustable flexible discharge chute or tube forming a continuation ofsaid neck; substantially as described.

5. In a pneumatic-stacker attachment for grain-separators, an inclinedreceiving and conducting chute having an open front, and located at therear ends of the shaker-screens and riddles of the separator, meansbeyond the rear ends of the riddles for forcing air into the lower endof said chute, an imperfo rate inclined partition dividing the chuteinto separate conduits, a straw receiving and mix- 7 ing chamber abovesaid partition,a contracted neck communicating with said chamber, and anadjustable flexible discharge chute or conduit extending from said neck,said flexible chute comprising tapering sections loosely connectedtogether, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

6. In a pneumatic-stacker attachment for grain-separators, a receivingand conducting chute having an open front or side adapted to abutagainst the rear open end of the thresher or separator to which it isattached and means for supporting it at a suitable inclination withrelation thereto, means located at the rear end of the riddles forforcing air in thelower end of said chute, an inclined par tition abovesaid air-forcing apparatus arranged entirely beyond the riddles andtransversely of the open front of the chute, and dividing the blast intoupper and lower currents within the chute which are combined in a singlestrong draft at the upper end of the partition, a chaff and straw mixingchamber at the terminus of the partition, there being a contracted exitopening into a conducting tube or chute movably supported upon said exitand adapted to be adjusted sidewise or raised or lowered, substantiallyas described.

7. In a pneumatic-stacker attachment for grain-separators, an upwardlyinclined chute having a fan at its lower end, the same being locatedbeyond the rear ends of the riddles, a contracted neck or exit portionand an intermediate straw and chaff mixing chamber, together with animperforate partition between said fan and mixing-chamber the same beingindependent of the riddles and inclined with respect to the bottom ofthe chute, so as to provide an air-conduit above and one below thepartition with provision for discharging the greater volume of air inthe lower conduit, and combining the two currents in the mixing-chamberso as to forcibly expel commingled straw and chaff therefrom.

8. In combination with the straw and chaff receiving chute, the fan orblower located at the lower end thereof, beyond the rear end of theriddles, and provided with a single discharge-spout, an imperforatepartition for dividing the blast of air into separate currents which areunited above the partition, the latterextending partly across thedischarge-spout and being inclined with respect to the bottom of thechute so as to provide a contracted exit from the fan-casing above thepartition, and space for a greater volume of air below the same, therebeing a contracted exit for the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony'whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES GARDINER. Witnesses;

G. McOoNAeHY, JOHN F. RALPH.

